Repsol Honda Names 2013-14 MotoGP Riders; Yamaha Gains New Backing

Repsol Honda has decided on its two riders for the 2013 MotoGP season. Most recent winner Dani Pedrosa has renewed with the team by signing a two-year contract extension.

The Spanish rider, who currently lies second in the championship after gaining his third consecutive victory at Sachsenring in the Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland--and his first win of the year--confirmed he'll be racing the next two years alongside current Moto2 championship leader Marc Marquez, who rides now for Team CatalunyaCixa Repsol.

"It was great to win the race (last weekend); the feeling was so good. And after that Honda and myself announced that we will continue together," Pedrosa said. "This is great news for me, because I've been many years with Honda since I started racing. I have always raced Repsol Honda. For us to continue it's great and we are hoping to continue in a strong way, also now in the second half of the championship.

"Here is a great track," Pedrosa said of the Gran Premio d'Italia TIM at Mugello this weekend. "Last year doesn't count much because I wasn't so fit but two years ago I won the race here, so I'm pretty confident here. The Honda is normally good here. We hope to do a good job and to do a good race."

Marquez can make his MotoGP debut with the Honda factory team now that MotoGP rules that forced incoming riders to work with satellite teams before joining factory squads have been relaxed. He'll be just 20 years old when next season begins and is already recognized as one of the biggest young talents in the motorcycling world. Marquez also signed for two years with Repsol Honda. He was the 125cc World Champion in 2010, runner-up in his Moto2 debut last year and currently leads the Moto2 World Championship by 43 points.

"To reach MotoHP next season with Repsol Honda is a dream come true and I want to thank HRC for their confidence in me," Marquez said. "I am very proud to be a part of the big Honda family for the future, and I don't want to forget all the people have helped me since I began to ride. Now my focus is on Moto2 where my team and I are working very hard and we are excited to achieve our goal, which is to win the World Championship in 2012."

In other news, Yamaha Factory Racing has a new official sponsor, Italian-based BM Group for the balance of the 2012 season and for the following two years of MotoGP competition. BM Group already has strong ties with the Yamaha brand as they've been a key sponsor of the World Superbike Yamaha team. It was, both said, a natural progression to move across to MotoGP.

BM Group, operating nearly 50 years, manufactures and supplies electronic connections and is a global market leader in its field. "We have developed a close and exciting relationship with Yamaha," Andrea Mario Lodo, president of BM Group said. "From our first cooperation in 2009 with the Yamaha Superbike Team, our partnership has continued to go from strength to strength as it evolves. BM Group's innovation and determination makes it a perfect match for the most prestigious motorcycling event worldwide, which attracts international media coverage."

Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing added, "Both of our companies share similar values of passion, quality, innovation and teamwork. We enjoyed a successful collaboration in the past in Sueprbike and we look forward to partnering together in the coming years and sharing many exciting moments and successes, both on and off the track."